Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

The following is a step-by-step guide to cutting a pup from a mother plant. This method is very quick and easy and I'm sure if you give it a try, you will be much more likely to move pups around, as you'll find it fast and fun. The result will be many more banana plants colonizing your property, much sooner. And you know what that means. So follow along with me as we seperate a Pitogo huli from it's mother...

Tools required - deep scoop, short handle shovel and a sledgehammer (I usually use a much bigger sledge than this though!).



This is where we will be working. This plant has been growing quite slow for me, so I figure if I remove the pup and move it over a bit, the two stalks won't be competing for the limited nutrition in that area where they are together now. I'll also amend the soil before I'm done.



Positioning of the cut. Place your scoop close to the mother plant that will remain. Notice the pseudostem is nested right alongside the handle of the shovel, touching. The handle is also used to fold the leaf away from your line of sight. Now position the angle of your cut by moving the handle where you hold the shovel away from the mother plant. This gives you an angle that will cut a little bit under the mother plant, or at least cut away from the base of the pup, leaving the most valuable corm material to remain on the pup. This step is important! Line everything up properly.



Sink the blade. With one hand, hold the handle of your shovel in place so you do not tip your shovel and hit your head with the handle when you smack the scoop with your sledgehammer. If you do not hold the shovel steady, it may strike your head violently. Holding the handle in place also makes sure you keep the angle you want.



Here you see the blade is sunk almost to it's base. The corm is severed and now we can lift the pup up and away from the mother.



A look down the incision and we can see the umbilical has been cut. This is when you pump the handle to pry the corm and roots up and out of the ground.



A perpendicular cut is made in this case to assist with popping the sucker out of the earth. Don't worry so much about the roots, enough will remain. What we're after is corm, the potato-like white mass under the stalk.



Up, up, and away.



Now we take a break and walk to get some compost. I use and recommend the UCT-9 compost bins manufactured by Urban Garden Center.



I use the lid as a tray to dump some compost on to carry it back to the planting site.



We're back with some compost.



Using your hands, mix the compost with the surrounding soil and press it down into the hole where the pup was. The roots from the mother plant will bury themselves into the compost and the plant will get a boost of energy for some time to come.



After returning from a trip to the compost barrels, we prepare a new planting hole not far away from the mother in the same manner, amending the soil with additional compost.



The finished product. Now we have two happy Pitogo banana plants, they won't even know what hit them. You can water at this point or just wait for rain.



The whole process can be done in under five minutes.
If you follow these steps, you will have great success in propogating bananas and you will see that by doing this often with your plants whenever the chance arises, the long term effect is plenty of plants that will grow taller, faster, and will be spreading the yard as fast as you can move them around.
:bananarow:


Update: there were also some videos added on page three of this thread showing the pry bar method. Pasting the videos here as well:

YouTube - Removing a Raja Puri Banana Pup Video #1

YouTube - Removing a Raja Puri Banana Pup Video #2

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

Excellent tutorial! Thanks so much!!!

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

Already potted up several dozen this season. I use a digging bar with about a 2-1/2 wide blade. A lot less parent plant root damage than with the spade.

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

Jon, do you use a hammer with the bar or just use your hands?

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

Nohammer, it is heavy enough to jab in between the pup and parent.

Similar to http://www.acehardware.com/sm-collin...i-1274440.html

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

http://www.leidytool.com
These guys have some good ones, too. They protect you from shock if you have to worry about that sort of thing for the other jobs you'll use it for.

I need to buy a digging bar to add to my arsenal, too.

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

I have seen the digging bars for sale at local flee markets..

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

Media Hound,

Thanks for posting such a detailed thread. This is great! :blueskirtnaner:

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

Thanks, Austin, you're very welcome.
:2759:

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

Very clear and informative Jarred. Thanks.

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

Welcome, IC!

I just bought a digging bar, these nanners better watch out.
:2687:

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

Nice job, Jarred. I need to get a compost barrel like that. My girlfriend's mom was going to give us hers, but it's the kind that just sits there and you can't rotate it. Kind of pointless if you need to dig into it periodically to get the older stuff.

I have an easier job of separating pups in the spring, Jarred. You see, mine are all under the house bareroot (except for the cold-hardy ones in the ground). I just snap them off before planting, lol! :bananas_b

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

Jon, are you talking about a San Angelo bar? Those things are awesome. I used one to remove a small tree, for crying out loud. Great for difficult jobs, prying stuff loose, etc. Never would have thought about using it to remove a little banana pup, but I bet it does the job very quickly and easily. Those things are like 6 feet long and weigh 17 lbs.

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

There are a lot of variations on a theme. Mine happens to be a "Roughneck" brand.

see http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?id=62496 or
http://www.tractorsupplyco.com/detai...roductID=25068

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

That's the exact one I got.
Home Depot, I think it was $27.

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

Frank, you can get them on eBay a for a little bit of a discount sometimes vs. getting them directly from the manufacturer. They burn through the material really quickly, keep it moist and in the sunlight.. it gets burning hot and things break down in there quite fast. I did a ton of homework before I decided to get this particular model, I reviewed most all the composters on the market.
I also use a Flowtron leaf eater and a chipper too.

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

Do you like the flowtron, i.e. would you buy the thign again? How heavy duty is it. I bag about 40 bags of elaves a year and would love to be able to use them more effectively.

Keith

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

I like it! It does a great job of pulverizing the leaves into a fine, usable substrate.
Keep a screwdriver nearby when you use it, so when the head gets jammed up with fiber, you can easily pop it off and clean it out and get back to mulching fast. It doesn't like damp banana fibers (the midribs), they get stuck, but it still gets them to the point where they compost faster in the barrels, so I don't mind mixing them in if I'm out there shredding things.
Flowtron sells refurbished ones on eBay, their username is flowtronproducs
http://myworld.ebay.com/flowtronproducts
It's built pretty good, it has a circuit breaker and is pretty durable, too. You won't be disappointed if you get one.

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

:birthdaynana: fabulous! a great lesson for us novices!

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

I am soooo glad you mentioned the diigging tool! I was just out struggling in our clay soil with a couple of shovels, then - DUH - remembered that we have a digging tool! It's making the planting alot easier! :giveflowersnana:

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

Media hound,

Thanks for putting together that lesson:discocrazed: . I will follow that process to a T. Too bad I didn't see this the other day when a separated a couple of Basjoos. Boy are they ever sulking right now. They almost immediately had limp leaves:2141: . Any advice in reviving them?

Thanks

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

Phil, pot them up in a well draining soil, water them daily or better.
Mix a lot of humus and organic matter, compost, etc. into the soil.
That step is very important!
Don't trim anymore roots or leaves from here forward.
If you need to trim the leaves to keep the plant aesthetic, wait until they are dried and crispy brown!
In a few weeks, the plant should be better than ever.
Maybe offer it a somewhat shady spot, too, but with at least a little bit of sun.
Sulking or weeping leaves is common right after you cut the plant, it's amazing how fast it can happen, though! Makes you realize that in fact there's a lot of things constantly happening inside the tissues of the plant!

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

Thanks for the additional info. I have been watering them daily and the new leaves looks fine but the lower leaves are drying up. I will leave them as you stated.

Thanks again.
Phil

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

Excellent article. I will do this when it’s time to separate. Thank you. Red

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

welcome welcome!
:exercise:

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

We would like to know if Spring is the only time of the year that you separate the pups, or if it depends on what area that you live in and the type of tree:2766: ??

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

I have lost a lot of newly cut and potted pups to rot by over watering before the new roots grow out. In my own experiance it's best to use a 50/50 mix of perlite and planting compost, water once, then wait until you see new growth before watering again which usually takes 15-30 days. I have about a 90% success rate with this method. I should also note that I don't let the corms scab nor do I use any rooting hormone or fungal prohibiter.

Gabe showed me a little secret he has for rooting corms quicker where you peel off the bottom leaves exposing the fresh white area around the corm where the new roots will grow from. I still do it the old way but it's something to think about.

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

I've never really had a problem with loosing pups, especially one out of ten.
(knocks on wood)

Allow me to add, though, with my plumeria cuttings, I water once, then not again for several weeks.
The bananas get water and they seem to thrive just fine.

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

I wonder if it has anything to do with temps and humidity?

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

It's hot and humid here!
One could gather to use their best judgement when watering banana pups, be careful to not over do it.
For the record and mathematicians, I don't use rooting hormone on my bananas, either...

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

MediaHound, Original way!

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

Jarred what about Musa Lasiocarpa? The pups seem to be coming out above the leaf stems. Gabe you can correct my interpretation -definition if you like.

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

I've yet to attempt seperating any pups from my lasiocarpa, but it does have some.

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

OMG!!! I am ROFLMBAO!!!!!!
Diggin Bar????? Here in Texas that is what I use when Posthole Diggers don't work.. Is Digging Bar a Universal term??? Spent to many Freakin Hours on the backside of that thing!!! I guess I just don't get it...LOL
I use the Amazing Ginsu Knife!!!!!
Kylie

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

I am so sorry!!! That was just RUDE!!!!!!!
BUT the diggin bar thing threw me... I am certain we are not talking about the same piece of equipment... AGAIN I am so very sorry!!!
Kylie

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

The digging bar is one of my most used tools. MVP tool ever for transplanting or uprooting large plants.

Should I try to seperate these plants in the foreground at this point in the year?

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

D and T

It is best to take the pups when they stil have several weeks of good warm growing weather ahead. That allows them to get rooted and established before they go "dormant" in cooler weather, and then they have less likelihood of rotting. Pups taken in Fall and Winter have a greater mortality rate, because it is so easy to over-water them. When the weather is cool, the plant uses less water, and there is less evaporation, so overwatering is easy.

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

Thanks for the info, that answers that question!!:choochoo:

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

:2197: What works for seperating basjoo pups that can be 8 to 12 inches away from mom?

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

What's worked for me is to make the cut but don't lift the pup for a week or 10 days. Less stress.

Steve

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

steve, on basjoo, how big do you let the pups get? Mine are all sword pups. You make the cut right at the mother plant even if the pup is 8 inches away?My sikkis are pupping right next to the mother.One sikki has a sword pup and the other has a fat leaved pup.:2791:

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

Thank very much for this thread i have tried several times to seperate and keep getting it wrong with this guide i cant go wrong now thank you!!:2182:

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

Thanks for taking the time to post this tutorial. It is very much appreciated.

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

Here's some videos I just uploaded to the gallery. I took them a few months ago.
The plant is a Raja Puri and the videos show another easy way to seperate the pups - using a pry bar.
Please pause the second video and start it after the first one is finished.

What you do is jab the bar at the base of the plant and move it back and forth to pry the pup up and away. Then reach down at the base of the pup, grab it, and lift it up.

YouTube - Removing a Raja Puri Banana Pup Video #1

YouTube - Removing a Raja Puri Banana Pup Video #2

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

Great visual on separating a pup, Thank You Jarred, I've never done this before and I should have with DC. just keep getting bigger pots and transplanting the whole nine yards, Wife says I'm chicken,( She's Right of course :bungejumpnaner: ) Scared of hurting them, now in zone 5 with winter approaching not sure if it's a good idea to separate or try and overwinter in the big pot, any suggestions? Thanks again for video:2791:

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

Great video, media hound. It just surprises me that mother does not get damaged. I have only had success with two bajoo pups, but no luck with my two attempts at my sikkis. I think I was afraid to apply that much pressure against the mother plant.

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

Thanks for the comments guys.
Yes, its ok to use pressure against the mother plant.
It's pliable enough to take (some of) the pressure of using it as a wedge for the pry bar.

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

I removed a pup about a week ago using the same method. When I moved the mother plant around it made me really nervous but pup and mom are doing great still.

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

very imformative

Re: Time to separate the pups for the Spring
 

Infomative. I'll try next season. Thanx!:2735: